29 March 16 Find Awards Presented

On 17 January 2016, an aircrew was dispatched from the Athens-Ben Epps airport to locate an emergency beacon (also known as an ELT) near Fitzgerald, Georgia. The aircrew consisted of Mission Pilot 1st Lt Craig Boozer, Mission Observer Maj Jeff Garrett, and Mission Scanner Lt Col Dennis Arford. At approximately 2300, with the help of a ground team from the Albany Composite Squadron, the crew located the beacon coming from a life flight helicopter that had landed hard, but safely, at the Crisp County airport. The crew also worked hard through the night and located another emergency beacon coming from an aircraft that had landed hard in the owner's field. The ground team found the owner safely asleep at home around 0500.

For their work to successfully locate the emergency beacon, the crew has been awarded a Find ribbon with a propeller clasp. This is a fulfillment of the Civil Air Patrol's Emergency Services mission and it's motto, "Semper Vigilans" translated, "Always Vigilant". Communities should know that if a plane or person goes missing, the Civil Air Patrol will work tirelessly to rescue and bring them back safely. Thankfully this mission ended with everyone being found safe.